SAN FRANCISCO — The largest gathering of Asian Pacific Americans in the nation is back and bigger than ever, this year showcasing the return of the Asian Arts & Crafts World Market, an extravaganza of unique hand-made products and artworks.
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration, to be held Saturday, May 19, on Larkin Street in San Francisco from the Asian Art Museum to Little Saigon, will also feature a scrumptious collection of pan-Asian delights and sweets, along with the Bay Area’s favorite food trucks.
For the first time ever, the fair will feature celebrity cooking demonstrations, including a lesson from renowned chef Martin Yan and Slanted Door’s Charles Phan.
To get the day off to a good start, Thai monks from Wat Buddhapradeep in San Bruno will perform a blessing at the Fulton Street Stage to kick off festivities at 10 a.m.
Officially kicking off the fair at 11 a.m., will be the Faces of Asia Cultural Procession, a dazzling display of traditional ethnic attire with nearly 200 participants, organized by Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center.
Popular returning fair features for people of all ages include the J-cars, wine area, children’s area, Healthy Living Pavilion, free film screenings presented by the Center for Asian American Media (http://caamedia.org/), along with performances by Asian American artists, DJs, and martial arts experts. The fair will also offer free hepatitis B screenings.
The Arts & Crafts World Market will showcase the most creative Asian-themed arts and crafts items. All vendors will be carefully juried and shoppers can expect to find the highest level of hand-crafted goods.
Fairgoers will also be able to enjoy free general admission to the Asian Art Museum (www.asianart.org) courtesy of Target.
Originally held in different San Francisco neighborhoods, including Japantown, the Sunset District and South of Market, this celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is now an annual event in the Civic Center/Little Saigon area.
For more information, visit http://asianfairsf.com.
Performance Schedule
Civic Center Stage
Hosted by Franco Finn and JayPlus
10 a.m.: Thai blessing
11 a.m.: Welcome presentation, Arianna Tolentino, Chloe Yu, Johnny Hi-Fi
12:30 p.m.: The Seshen
1:30 p.m.: DJ Mike Nice, Native Elements
2:30 p.m.: Beach Blanket Babylon, Kenneth Ronquillo, Sheryl Ann Padre
3:30 p.m.: DJ ToneDef, Rocky Rivera
4:30 p.m.: Hep B presentation for World Hepatitis Screening Day
Cultural and Jazz Stage
11 a.m.: U.S. Wing Chun, Parangal Dance Company, Faces of Asia
12 p.m.: Francis Wong Unit (Asian Improv aRts)
1 p.m.: GenRyu Arts
2:15 p.m.: Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center, Burmese Youth Association, CARA’s Cambodian American Dance Troupe, Richmond Temple Music Group, Traditional Performing Ensemble from Thailand
3:45 p.m.: Gadung Kasturi Balinese Dance and Music, GoldenVardo Tribal Bellydance, Maria Watanabe’s “San Francisco Sailor Moon”
4 p.m.: Joel Del Rosario (San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival)
Cooking Demo Schedule
10:50 a.m.: Kayne Raymond
11:30 a.m.: Andrea Nguyen
12:30 p.m.: Mari Takahashi
1:30 p.m.: Charles Phan
2:30 p.m.: Martin Yan
3:30 p.m.: Steve Cortez